The NFL announced their November Rookie of the Month awards, and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster was named Defensive Rookie of the Month. New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara was named Offensive Rookie of the Month.
Foster is the fifth 49ers rookie to earn a Rookie of the Month award. He joins Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, Chris Borland, and Andre Carter. In three November games, he had 30 tackles, including three stuffs. The 49ers did not play a fourth game as they had a bye week.
Foster is currently ranked No. 17 among rookies in tackles. His 38 total tackles leaves him 18 back of rookie leaders Jarrad Davis and Marcus Maye. Of course, Foster has also missed over six games (including most of Week 1) this season. He suffered a high ankle sprain early in his Week 1 debut, and sat out six of the next seven games. Even with just five tackles in each of those six games, he would be the easy leader in tackles among rookies.
Of course, that’s the rub. Health was an issue coming in, and that continued the first half of the season. However, he has stayed on the field the past three games, and is showing the potential that had us all so excited. I don’t think he has enough time left to move past some of the other Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates, but he is moving into the mix. If he can stay healthy the rest of the season, there will be plenty of buzz surrounding him heading into 2018.